Russell Westbrook‘s season and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship hopes are once again on indefinite hold, hinging on the prognosis of yet another setback to the point guard’s troublesome right knee.

During the third quarter of Friday’s game at Toronto, Raptors guard Kyle Lowry inadvertently knocked knees with Westbrook as he came out to guard him at the 3-point arc. Westbrook immediately winced in pain and slapped his palm on the floor. The team’s television broadcast termed it a sprain. Westbrook did not return. More will be known on the severity of the injury Saturday.

His immediate reaction was eerily similar to the initial injury during last season’s playoffs when Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley lunged into Westbrook’s knee as he pulled up to call a timeout near the Thunder’s bench.

That injury tore the meniscus in Westbrook’s right knee, ending his season and sending him to the operating table. He underwent a second surgery prior to training camp, and swelling in the knee forced a third procedure two days after he recorded a triple-double at Madison Square Garden on Christmas Day.

Westbrook, who had not missed a regular-season game in his NBA career until this season, was playing in his 11th game back since the third operation. He’s played in 37 of the team’s 69 games, averaging 21.4 ppg, 7.2 apg and 5.8 rpg.

The Thunder return to Oklahoma City Friday night and don’t play again until Monday against Denver.

POSTGAME UPDATE:

Russell Westbrook was in great spirits after the game. Left the arena walking just fine. No brace. No crutches. Doesn't expect to miss time.

15 Comments

Russell Westbrook will be healthy for a very, very long time. That dirty play Kyle Lowry made during that EPIC double-overtime Toronto/OKC game (possible 2014 NBA Finals preview) did not stop Westbrook. That was like a test proving Westbrook is in no danger of any re-injury. He has totally recovered and will help the Thunder win it all.

The NBA needs to start handing down fines/punishments to players who try to injure other players on purpose. This is getting ridiculous. Coaches needs to tell their players to play the game the right way. Don’t tell your players to “sweep the leg” (Karate Kid reference). It won’t work on Westbrook, anyway, so don’t even try it anymore. Stop aiming for his knee, Kyle Lowry and Patrick Beverley. STOP. Have some professional decorum.

“Sweep the leg.” “You have a problem with that?” “No, sensei.” “No mercy.”

Sorry, fellas, this isn’t the Karate Kid. I have a huge problem when players try to re-injure other players on purpose.

Kyle Lowry and Pat Beverly. ALL YOU’VE DONE with your bushleague gameplay is motivated Westbrook and the Thunder that much more to stomp the rest of the NBA for the next 15+ years. Thank you.

We already do. Reggie Jackson stepped in after Kyle Lowry advertently bumped knees with Westbrook and did a magnificent job, including getting his first-career double-double. He was huge in helping the Thunder win at Toronto — a game they should have lost until KD and Fisher hit some incredible 3s at the end of that EPIC double-overtime game.

If Indiana doesn’t make it to the 2014 NBA Finals, I predict it will be: OKC Thunder vs. Toronto Raptors.

Yes.! Honestly as a strong OKC Fan I know that Durant will never win a ring with westbrook. Yes westbrook brings a defensive present but he is not a TRUE point guard. Westbrook wants to be the superstar and not Durants lackey. They need to get rid of him and get an average point guard and an average center who can get u at least 10 -15 points a night cause Perkins doesn’t do. that. Point is they need to get rid of westbrook they can get a good TRUE point guard that’ll play his position.

Yeah, they do. They are about to go 4 wins and 0 losses against current-one-seeded San Antonio. Thunder shall win it all. Westbrook didn’t get injured. It was just a day-to-day thing like a sprain or bruise or contusion. Nothing serious.